Pope Leo XIV met with representatives from Villanova and Notre Dame basketball programs at the Vatican on Saturday, telling the teams he would remain neutral ahead of their upcoming matchups in Rome. The audience took place in the Paul VI Hall before approximately 7,000 university representatives gathered for the Eternal City Tip-Off, a men's and women's college basketball doubleheader scheduled for November 1 in the Italian capital.
Notre Dame guards Braeden Smith and Logan Imes presented the pontiff with a personalized Fighting Irish jersey and basketball during the meeting. The Vatican corrected an earlier identification that had named Elijah Crawford and Brady Muller as the players in attendance.
The Eternal City Tip-Off marks a rare occasion where major American college basketball programs compete in Europe. Both Villanova and Notre Dame have storied basketball traditions, with Villanova claiming three NCAA championships and Notre Dame reaching the Final Four multiple times. The tournament provides international exposure for the programs while showcasing Rome as a sports destination.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope elected in 2025, has roots in the Augustinian order that founded Villanova University. His reported neutrality statement drew smiles from both delegations, though the competitive stakes remain clear for the November 1 games.
